Spain: Another DTT retune in 2020
February 17, 2016
From David Del Valle in Madrid
Spain will have to readjust its DTT aerials once again in 2020 following the decision of mobile phone companies to request the European Commission to award them the 700 MHz band for 4G and 5G Internet services in the forthcoming reorganisation of the radioelectric spectrum that Brussels is finalising.
Currently the 700 MHz band (between 694 and 790 MHz) is being used by DTT, which should move to a lower band to free it up driving to a new DTT retune of aerials, and even new TV sets before June 2020 affecting 15 million homes.
Spaniards already had to face a DTT retune in the last quarter of 2014 that was completed in March 2015 to leave the 800 MHz band to mobile companies for 4G services with a cost of €286 million. Previously, in 2005, the analogue switch-off took place with the first DTT migration.
Mobile operators have agreed to urge the EC to free up the 700 MHz band for their new mobile services, a proposal to be submitted to Brussels before April 12, the EC-imposed deadline to send the proposals from all involved parties (Mobile operators, TV channels, users Associations and other entities). If the EC gives the green light, TV channels will have to move to a lower band bringing together a new DTT migration.